Natural History Wanderings

Two wildflower updates from Antelope Valley for May 4, 2014

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR. reports:

the peak has passed but there are still beautiful fields of poppies for probably the next couple weeks, mostly on the slopes along the Antelope Loop trail at this time.  Many wildflowers have gone to seed but the beavertail cacti now have lovely pink blooms and the buckwheat will be blooming soon.

Mary Wilson at Latest Poppy Reserve Research Field Notes and Observations

There are still poppies in bloom at the Reserve along with silver puffs, forget-me-nots, a few Mojave suncups, pygmy lupine and Jimson weed. Unfortunately there is also mustard and tumbleweed coming up. The goldfields are still there but are loosing their petals and just have the cone flowers left. The poppies are maturing and you will find some of the flowers are turning yellow at the tips of the petals. Just about all the flowers are maturing and forming their seeds. They will drop those seeds and make up the seed bank for the next wildflower season.

The eastside of the park has a very beautiful display of poppies. The best view would be from the Antelope Butte Trail which is at the for east side of the park.

Other Wildflower Areas:

• 110th St. West and Avenue J to Avenue K still have a good showing of poppies.
• Godde Hill Road has a few poppies, Jimson weed, deer weed, Fremont Encelia, Fremont pincushions, Buckwheat, forget-me-nots, bindweed and purple lupine. The Lord’s candles are starting to bloom
• Bouquet Canyon Road has Elderberry trees in bloom along with mustard, chia, Indian paintbrush, bindweed, deer weed, Lord’s candles, Yerba Santa, a few poppies, prickly poppies, bush poppies, Jimson weed, thistle, golden yarrow, Chamise, Tobacco trees, monkey flowers, black sage and purple lupine.